No love for Gears 3 as GOTY contender?

Lately, I've been reading quite a few forum posts and comments debating about which game deserves to be Game of the Year(GOTY). All off the big name games see their titles thrown around; Batman: AA, Portal 2, BattleField 3, Modern Warfare 2, Skyrim, Zelda: Skyword Sword, Uncharted 3. While most of these titles haven't been released and haven't proven their quality yet, we constantly forget about one game that is already out and that was praised by most critics. Throning at the top of metacritic Gears of War 3 seems to have been forgotten by it's fans.

So what happened there? there are a few explanations to this. We might think that, as the game has been recently released, gears fans are to busy playing rather than debating on gaming websites, but that sounds rather contrived. The two other reasons I have, are more plausible. People seem to get more exited for games that aren't released yet and once they are released, the hype dies down. This would explain the fact that all "GOTY contenders" aren't on the market yet. Portal 2 is the only released game of that list, but it also is non-coincidentally the only game topping Gears 3 on metacritic as of now.

The last point questions the quality of Gears 3, sure, it's a great game with a loads of content, but did the critics get carried away in their scoring? Up to now, I've been thinking that gears was over-rated, but kept it to myself thinking I was in a minority. Now, the lack of support for Gears 3 has pushed me in believing that people, after all, don't Love Gears 3 as much as would suggest the critics.

This is my first blog, any feedback would be appreciated. What do you think about the subject?

ME3 Multiplayer Brings up a New Issue

So, we've all heard by now, right? Mass Effect 3 will have multiplayer! (it's okay, I'll wait for you to all calm down)

I think most of us knew this was coming. From the not so coy "oh, we're not commenting at this time on multiplayer" at E3 to the decision to push it back more than a few months from its original release date. Now that it's here, all we have to do is just see where it goes and how it plays out.

But, as I am wont to do, I have decided to get an early jump on the bandwagon to bicker about one possible fault with the multiplayer experience as a whole. I know, you're probably thinking it's the usual "OMG, bad Online Pass is bad!" It's not. I really don't care about it as I don't really play games online and I buy my BioWare games new... well... so far at least. Yes, I'm looking at you, possible Dragon Age 3.

My issue with the multiplayer deals with the, currently understood to be, limitation to playing as a completely different race in the game. If you haven't watched the latest BioWare TV episode where they go over this, please do so now:

http://n4g.com/news/864090/...

Welcome back! Now, did you hear that? When you play with your friends, you'll be able to take control over and play as many of the races you've seen in the game, including classes specific to them.

Wait... one of the biggest desires people have asked for in the single player game... is limited to the multiplayer game? Why?

I mean, I get it, the single player game is Shepard's story and is important. Gotcha. Don't want to ruin that or put a confusing spin on it. Leave that alone and don't touch it. But... why is it multiplayer only for these optional game elements that many have wanted?

It may seem petty asking this, but we're really talking about a series that has been single player up until now. Many of us were thinking that if multiplayer was implemented, it wouldn't matter much as long as it doesn't affect the single player game. And, it doesn't... but it kind of is a slap in the face at the same time by offering something so unique as the opportunity to play as races that require us to play with others in order to experience it.

I'm hoping that they are not limiting the co-op games to just those who are able to find a friend to game with them and that an individual can take the time to do it on their own. I don't think it right that they finally implement a feature that many Mass Effect fans have been asking for since the first game, and then limit it to those who play with others.

Anyway, as always, thanks for reading my rant over the small stuff.

Chinese Couple Sells All Three Kids to Play Online Games

A young Chinese couple has sold all three of their children in exchange for money to play online Nick jr games at Internet cafes, reports a southern Chinese newspaper.

According to Sanxiang City News, the couple met in an Internet cafe back in 2007 and bonded over their obsession with online video games.  A year later, the parents — who are both under 21 — welcomed their first child, a son.  Days after his birth, they left him home alone while they went to play online agame at an Internet cafe 30 km away.

In 2009, Li Lin and Li Juan welcomed their second child, a baby girl, and came up with the idea to sell her for money to fund their online game obsession.  They did so, receiving RMB 3,000 (less than $500), which they spent entirely shortly after.  The couple then proceeded to sell their first child and got 10 times as much for him — RMB 30,000, or about $4600.

Upon having their third child — another boy — the parents followed in their previous footsteps and also got RMB 30,000 for him.

They were finally turned into authorities when Li Lin’s mother found out what her son and his girlfriend had done.

When asked if they missed their children, the parents answered, “We don’t want to raise them, we just want to sell them for some money.”

Sanxiang City Newsreports the couple didn’t know they were breaking the law.